The Society of St. Andrew
(Website)
During Lent make
feeding the hungry your mission
Free daily Lenten Devotions program available from
Society of St. Andrew, a national (Advance) hunger relief ministry
Jesus commanded his followers to make feeding the hungry their mission on his behalf.* In the Old Testament God called His people, His Church to be His hands and feet in a world in need.** What better way during Lent to honor God's directive and Jesus' sacrifice on the cross than by helping to feed the hungry? With the current economic downturn affecting just about everyone, the need for help is even greater for those who are forced to rely on critical service agencies to feed their families.
The Society of St. Andrew, a national, ecumenical, nonprofit hunger relief ministry and Advance #801600, offers its 2009 Lenten Devotions program, Christ's Marvelous Hands." "Through spiritual reflection, prayer and giving, the reader is challenged to take seriously the scriptural injunctions to care for the poor, while also being provided an opportunity to feed our hungry neighbors," explained Rev. Jennifer Vestal Moore, church relations director for the Society of St. Andrew. "Each day of Lent the reader is introduced to a unique way to see Jesus through His divine, yet human, hands, and is encouraged to reflect and pray about how they might use their hands to be more Christ-like to others."
An optional "Good Friday Fast" is available for use in conjunction with the daily devotions or as a stand-alone program.
The Society of St. Andrew's (SoSA) produce salvage programs (Gleaning Network and Potato & Produce Project) are a common-sense and cost-efficient way to gather what is left in farm fields after the harvest to feed the hungry. SoSA has a 30-year history of ministry and has saved over half a billion pounds of good, nutritious food from going to waste. This food has been donated to critical feeding agencies throughout the nation, providing hungry people with 1.7 billion servings of nourishing food. Since SoSA delivers fresh food for about 2 cents per serving, a $1 a day donation during Lent ($47) will provide over 2,000 servings of fresh produce for those who don't get enough to eat. SoSA's fundraising and administrative costs are less than 10%, which means that more than 90 cents of every donated dollar goes directly to providing food.
By 2008 General Conference Resolution, the Society of St. Andrew is an official partner with the United Methodist Church in alleviating hunger in the U. S. The UMC commends this partnership between local churches and SoSA through volunteer service and gifts through The Advance Special #801600.
"Donations made to the Society of St. Andrew through last year's Lenten Devotions program were directly responsible for providing 4.65 million servings of food to the nation's hungry families," said Carol Breitinger, SoSA communications director. "That was a 17.2% increase over how much food was provided the previous year through this program. The hope is, with the need for food help significantly on the rise, that even more people will provide the means for meeting that critical need."
All materials for the Society of St. Andrew's Lent Devotions program are free. Order today - individuals can order their own packet, and churches can order a sample packet. There is no obligation. Call 800-333-4597; fax 434-299-5949; email church@endhunger.org; or order online at www.endhunger.org/lent.htm.
Materials will begin shipping the week of January 12, "but place your order early so we can be sure to print enough packets," asked Rev. Moore. "And if you do not receive your packet within two weeks of ordering - it may have gotten lost in the mail or email - please call or email me again and we'll send it out immediately!"
For more information about the Society of St. Andrew, its hunger-relief or Lenten Devotions programs, call 800-333-4597 or email church@endhunger.org.
*Matthew 14:16 - But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!" (NRSV)
James 2:14-17, 26 - What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 26-For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead. (NRSV)
I John 3:17-18 - How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. (NRSV)
Matthew 25:34-40 (NRSV) - Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'"
**Deuteronomy. 15:11 - For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
"When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this." DEUTERONOMY 24:19-22
The Society of St. Andrew, an ecumenical Christian Hunger relief ministry with strong ties to the United Methodist Church, administers the HRA initiative. The national HRA and Conference HRAs are Society of St. Andrew employees. To learn more, click on the SoSA shield.
Howard Christian UMM Hunger Relief Coordinator
As your Hunger Relief Advocate, I need to tell you that the Detroit Conference UMM are in fourth place in the top 10 Conferences for donations. First Place is Northern Illinois with $9,654.54; second is Virgina with $8,648.50; third is Baltimore Washington with $8648.39; and fourth is Detroit Conference with $8,305.02. I know the Detroit Conference UMM will not let the Society of St. Andrew, Meals for Millions, down and will end up in first again.
Our lowest ammound donated for Meals for Millions was in 2006 with $22,549.06; our highest ws $45,568.89 in 2003.
I need a list of UM Men volunteers that have, or can get, a trailer and/or pickup and, of course, themselves to glean potatoes and other produce at any given time. Generally speaking, 1 to 7 days. Without a way to haul produce there is no way to glean.
The Society of St. Andrew has served from waste 533,034,578 pounds of fresh nutritious food or 6598 billion servings of food. Remember that 36 to 37 million people are in danger of going hungry or not knowing where their next meal is comming from. Of that number, over 10 million on any given day go without a meal -- and 1/3 to 1/2 of them are children. That my friends is a SIN.
One way you can help is to order an Advent starter kit for your men's group and/or your church. You can order the Advent Starter Kit from the Society of St. Andrew, 1-800-333-4597 or www.endhunger.org.
Howard Christian
Detroit Conference United Methodist Men Hunger Relief Advocate
Email: howard017@centurytel.net